Spirit-level.



No. 798,709. PATENTED'SEPT. 5, 1905. C. G. SMITH.

SPIRIT LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED ooT.1. 1904.

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PATENT FFICE.

SPIRIT-LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed October 1,1904. Serial No. 226,785.

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Be it known that l, Guanti-ts G. SMITH, of Minneapolis, Ilennepin county, i\'linnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spirit-Levels, of which the following is a specification.

rIhe object ot' my invention is to provide a simple inexpensive level and one in which the spirit-tube can be easily and quickly adjusted with respect to the wooden block or frame in which it is mounted.

A vfurther object is to provide a spirit-level adapted Yfor use on inclined or vertical surfaces as wellas on a horizontal surface.

rIhe invention consists generallyin various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter' described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying' drawings, forming part of this specil'ication, Figure l is a side view of a level embodying my invention, the device being shown applied to an inclined surface. Fig. 2- is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing a modiiied construction of the level. Fig. a is a longitudinal section.

In the drawings, 2 represents a wooden block ot' the usual shape and size employed with spirit-levels, havingl a recess 3 on one side, extending' partially through the block and communicating with a hole 4, that extends through the opposite side and being' of less diameter than the recess. A disk 5 is titted within the recess over the hole a and is preferably of ground glass to prevent the sun from shining' in the eyes of the person using the tool when it is held between thc face and the sun. The recess is interiorly threaded to receive a sleeve 6, that is provided with a central opening' T, and a flange 8, that is adapted to lit the surface of the block and conceal the edge of the recess. \Vithin the sleeve 6 a glass spirit-tube?) is mounted, extendingacross the hole T and visible therethrough. Rings 9 are provided on each side of the center-mark in the tool to enable the operator to easily center the bubble therein. A disk 5, similar tothe one covering the hole i, but of common glass, is provided over the tube, preventing it from becoming accidentally broken, but allowing' it to be easily examined when the instrument is in use. Ihe sleeve 6 is adapted to screw snugly into the recess to allow the proper adjustment of the spirit-tube with respect to the edge of the block. To facilitate the adjustment ofthe sleeve, I provide threaded holes 10 on each side of the center thereofl to receive machine-screws Il, which may be ad`v justed in the position shown in Fig. Q to enable a carpenter or other person to insert a sc1e\\'d1'iver between them and readily revolve the sleeve in either direction. Then these screws arenotin use, they may he turned down against the flange of the sleeve, where there will bc no danger of their catching on the clothes of the person using thclevel or in any way interfering with the work.

In Fig. I have shown a modiliedconstruction, which consists in providing a hole l2, extending entirely through the block from side to side, said hole being of the same diameter throughout and having' threaded walls at each end, wherein sleeves similar to those above described are screwed. 'lhese slecvesare provided with spirit-tubes set in plastcr-of-paris I3 or other suitable material, as indicated in Fig'. et, and in mounting them in the sleeves one tube is arranged at right angles to the other, so that when the sleeves are screwed into the block one tube will be parallel with the longitudinal edges of the block and the other tube will be substantially at right angles thereto. This arrangement adapts the device 'for use both on a horizontal and an inclined or ver tical surface. Both sleeves will be provided with the screws 1l to permit their convenient adjustment.

VIt will be noted that thislevel is very simple in construction. The threads to receive the sleeve being made in the wood render the use of all bushing and locking sleeves unnecessary, and the manner of mounting the spirit-tubes in the sleeves permits their removal whenever desired, and the convenient adjustment of the device permits the carpenter to set the tube in proper parallel relation with the edges of the block with the use of an ordinary tool.

I claim as my invention I. A spirit-level comprising' a block having' a threaded hole extending' through it from one side to the other, an exteriorly-threaded sleeve litting within said threaded hole and having an external flange to bear upon the surface of the block around said hole, a spirit-tube mounted in said sleeve, said tube being' visible through either end of said hole, and atranslmrent disk through which said tube may be observed, substantially as described.

Q. A spiritlevel, eoniprisinga block having a circular recess in one side provided with threaded walls, an exteriorly-tlu'eaded sleeve lit-ting' within said recess,a spirit-tube mounted IOO IIO

of the block and the other on the other side, and one tube being arranged substantially at I5 right angles to the other tube to adapt the level for use on a horizontal and upright surface, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 27th da;T of September, 1904, at 2O Minneapolis, Minnesota.

CHARLES G. SMITH.

In presence of# RICHARD PAUL, C. MACNAMARA. 

